All in all, it was a SATISFYING ending. As he drove away from the Schwartz's house, ya just kinda knew it was going to be that kinda show... you knew all the bad guys would die...you KNEW it woudln't be some sort of tragedy. We all just kept watching the tea Lydia had, knowing Walt would spike it.
Spiking the stevia packet was even smarter lol... Knowing she was doomed was pretty awesome.
It wasn't a TRAGIC ending... THAT is what I expected...a broken family by his sin, the bad guys keeping the fortune... all that... the way the gunfight went down when hank died - realistic - I thought the bad guys would win (usually real life).
The finale was more for the fans, and less for realism. It was satisfying to hear Lydia on the phone sick. To see Todd's uncle get wasted. Just so so much to pack into that last half hour of the show.
I've never cracked a tear in the show, but when he saw his daughter napping, knowing he was saying goodbye, that part broke me up, I'll admit. Five years (show time) of struggle so that little girl would be taken care of $$ wise. All for that one poignant moment.